Fronting the Front Range

Denver lies at the base of the Rocky Mountains and is a commercial hub for the Mountain States. Its elevation is officially 5,280 feet.
(Stan Obert / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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A full Platte

Park goers watch from the banks of the Platte River at Denver's Confluence Park as a couple of kayakers make their way through the white water. Denver has more than 200 parks, rivers and trail areas, public golf courses and recreation centers.
(Ed Andrieski / AP)
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Cleaning up town

Phoebe and Joel Mackler are dwarfed by the size of a sculpture of a broom and dustpan at the Denver Art Museum in downtown Denver. Admission to the art musem is free on the first Saturday of every month.
(Ed Andrieski / AP)
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Peak-a-boo!

The sun breaks through the clouds to highlight the summit of Pikes Peak as seen from the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colo.
(Ed Andrieski / AP)
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Dome of the Rockies

The Colorado State Capitol Building is located downtown at the east end of Civic Center Park. The 15th step on the west side of the building is exactly 1 mile above sea level.
(Stan Obert / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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Red Rocks and rock concerts

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a 9,000-seat arena that has been carved out of the local sandstone rock formations. Located 12 miles west of Denver, the venue has hosted everyone from the Beatles to top symphony orchestras.
(Ron Ruhoff / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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Downtown shopping

Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall has nearly 50 shops and restaurants. Located downtown near the Colorado Convention Center, the lively shopping center hosts a number of concerts and festivals.
(Stan Obert / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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High ball

Coors Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies, has 50,000 seats, most with great views of Denver and the mountains.
(Denver Visitors Bureau)
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Belles of the mountains

The Maroon Bells, a range of snowcapped peaks near Aspen, is one of the most photographed spots in Colorado.
(Stan Obert / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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The cowboy way

Paul Stewart founded the Black American West Museum, which tells the story of African-American cowboys.
(David Falconer / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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It's the water

The Downtown Aquarium immerses visitors on two journeys, one from the Continental Divide in Colorado to Mexico's Sea of Cortez, the other from an Indonesian rain forest to the Pacific Ocean.
(Randy Brown / Denver Visitors Bureau)
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

Although most hotels and motels in the Denver area do not have seasonal rates (as you'll find in many other parts of Colorado), hotels that cater to business travelers, such as the Brown Palace and the Warwick , often offer substantial weekend discounts, sometimes as much as 50% off the regular rates. Rates listed below do not include the 13.55% accommodations tax.

The lodging industry is still trying to catch up with the construction of Denver International Airport several years ago, and you'll find that many of the major chains and franchises have built or are in the process of constructing facilities near the new airport. Among those now open are Courtyard by Marriott at DIA, 6901 Tower Rd., Denver, CO 80249 (tel. 800/321-2211 or 303/371-0300), with rates of $69 to $149 for a double; Fairfield Inn-DIA, 6851 Tower Rd., Denver, CO 80249 (tel. 800/228-2800 or 303/576-9640), which charges $79 to $109 for a double; and Hampton Inn DIA, 6290 Tower Rd., Denver CO 80249 (tel. 800/426-7866 or 303/371-0200), with a rate of $100 for a double.

Outside downtown, chain lodgings include: Hampton Inn, 4685 Quebec St., Denver, CO 80216 (tel. 800/HAMPTON or 303/388-8100), with a double rate of $59 to $84; and Motel 6, 480 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80226 (tel. 800/466-8356 or 303/232-4924), charging $44 to $54 double. Among the four Best Westerns in the metro area is Best Western Denver Stapleton, 3535 Quebec St., Denver, CO 80207 (tel. 800/328-2268 or 303/333-7711), which has double rates from $69 to $89.

These official, or "rack," rates do not take into consideration any discounts, such as those offered to members of AAA or AARP. Be sure to ask if you qualify for a reduced rate. Because a chain hotel's national reservation service may not be able to offer discounts, your best bet may be to call the hotel directly.

Downtown--Hotels in downtown Denver, "the central business district of the Rocky Mountain West," generally cater to businesspeople, with high-tech amenities and locations convenient to the Convention Center or the financial district. These properties are more than adequate for leisure travelers, and especially enticing on weekends when they lower their rates.

Bed-and-Breakfasts--Those seeking an alternative to a hotel or motel might consider one of Denver's many bed-and-breakfast inns. Often located in historic 19th-century homes, bed-and-breakfasts offer a more personalized lodging experience than you could expect in all but the very best hotels, because you rarely find more than 10 rooms in a B&B, and you are, literally, a guest in someone's home.

The grand tradition of the gap year: that glorious time between school and work when young people take an extended break to see the world, explore their options and, perhaps, get a better sense of how they want to live the rest of their lives. These days, more people facing middle age are wondering why young people should have all the fun.